Generally, people don’t like to be cold, especially not in their own homes. That’s why they own heaters, blankets, socks, and water heaters.

People also don’t like to spend more money than they have to, so they try to get the most efficient appliances that they can for their homes. And when it comes to the latter item on the list above — water heaters — people have two options: storage water heaters and tankless water heaters.

Of the two, tankless water heaters will prove to be the more inexpensive to operate from day to day. However, money isn’t everything, as they say. When buying something as permanent as a water heater, you have many factors to consider. Tankless water heaters will save you money compared to traditional water heaters, but is money-saving enough of a benefit to justify picking tankless over traditional?

If you are unsure of which kind of water heater is best for you, then read on! We have compiled a list of pros and cons inherent in both storage and tankless water heaters to help you make the best and most informed decision when it comes to picking the best water heater for your home!

STORAGE WATER HEATERS — PROS

We all know what a storage water heater is: It’s that large, batter-shaped object that takes up its own closet in your home. While their design may be large and quite cumbersome, storage water heaters can prove to be one of the best options for your home — enough to justify taking up an entire closet all for itself, even!

And just what are these benefits? Well, the biggest one is reliability. Unlike tankless water heaters, which create water on demand, storage water heaters can store many, many gallons of water to be used when you need them.

This is a great benefit for emergency situations. Whereas tankless water heaters require electricity to produce hot water, a water heater can supply the hot water stored in it even during a blackout, making a storage water heater the ideal option in emergency situations.

Also, unlike tankless water heaters, storage water heaters don’t require an upgrade in the vent pipe or gas pipe, so you won’t have to pay for costly extra work for your storage water heater.

STORAGE WATER HEATERS — CONS

As mentioned above, a storage water heater needs to take up an entire closet, so it’s a pretty frustrating option if you’re pressed for space.

More than their cumbersome size, storage water heaters’ lifespan is a drawback compared to tankless heaters’. Storage units’ lifespan is many years shorter than tankless units’ are, so if you are the “set it and forget it” kind of homeowner, a storage water heater might not be the best option for you.

They also cost more to operate per day. This higher cost comes from their storage design. To keep the stored hot water warm, a storage unit must continuously provide a heat source, and this heat requires electricity or gas. This constant usage will drive up your heating or gas bill in a way that a tankless water heater won’t.

TANKLESS WATER HEATERS — PROS

The reason that tankless water heaters don’t cost as much to operate as storage types do is that they don’t store water, meaning they don’t continuously heat water.

But since they don’t store water, does that mean that you have to wait for hot water to build up before you can use it? Not at all! Tankless water heaters, also known as “demand-type water heaters,” make hot water JUST as soon as you need it! No waiting for water, and no paying to heat stored water!

And tankless water heaters will also last many years longer than storage units will, helping to save you money in the long run on repairs. If you’re in the market for a reliable appliance that will save you money in just about every way possible, then you can’t go wrong with a tankless water heater.

TANKLESS WATER HEATERS — CONS

The biggest con with tankless water heaters comes right at the start, and by at the start, we mean at installation. It costs quite a bit more to install a tankless water heater than it does to install a storage unit. This cost is due to the new ventilation system that could be required to install your tankless water heater. It’s also due to the tankless water heater itself, which can be significantly MORE costly than a storage unit.

And since tankless units don’t store water, you won’t have access to any hot water should your power go out. This feature (or lack thereof) can certainly prove to be a problem should you find yourself in a blackout.

On top of these drawbacks, tankless water heaters have a limit on how many faucets you can use at once. This problem arises because of their “hot water on demand” design. While tankless water heaters can produce hot water rather quickly, they can still produce only SO MUCH hot water at once. If your household regularly uses more faucets than a tankless unit might be capable of supplying hot water to, then tankless might not be the best option for you.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Your home needs hot water, and for getting it, you have two options: a standard or a tankless water heater. The matter of WHICH one to get is entirely dependent upon your needs and expectations.

If this list has helped you make an informed decision regarding the best water heater for your home, then call on the Charlotte plumber at W.H. Hobbs Inc. today for a quick and professional standard or tankless water heater installation!

If you are looking for a plumber in Charlotte, give us a call today at 704-332-1119 or fill out our online request form.

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